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Michigan lawmakers and environmental activists are cheering the news of the first national drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.
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State regulators would again have the power to create new water protection rules under legislation that made it out of a Michigan Senate committee Thursday. Colin Jackson has more.
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Did you know that state and local governments collectively spend about $1.3 trillion each year in procurement? That’s products like furnishings, computers, vehicles and pens and staplers. Many of these products are harmful to the environment, and so now, there is a movement towards sustainable procurement policies. It turns out Ann Arbor is leading the way and being used as a model around the country. WEMU's David Fair talks sustainable procurement with Matt Naud. He was the first ever environmental coordinator for the City of Ann Arbor and is now Senior Consultant for the Ann Arbor-based Resource Recycling Systems.
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The U.S. Department of Defense is finally going to take meaningful action to protect Lake Huron from PFAS contamination emanating from the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda. This action in Michigan may serve as a template for clean-ups at nearly 400 other bases across the country. The progress can be attributed to the efforts of concerned Michigan residents. Tony Spaniola is an Oscoda resident and co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. He joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak to discuss the latest information and what comes next.
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Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously to join a class action settlement, seeking compensation from companies that contributed to PFAS contamination. WEMU’s Taylor Bowie has more details.
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The repercussions of PFAS contamination continue to grow. Not only has it impacted fishing and recreation on the Huron River, it's affecting farmers and agriculture. Jason Grostic is owner of Grostic Cattle Company in Livingston County. His operations have been shut down because his cows tested positive for PFAS. As such, he’s gone nearly two years without a source of income and is now suing the source of the contamination, Wixom-based Tribar Manufacturing. He's also pushing state lawmakers to pass polluter-pay legislation that may prevent such occurrences in the future. Grostic shared his emotional story with WEMU's David Fair.
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The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled against the state’s 2020 PFAS drinking water standards. Colin Jackson has more.
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PFAS contamination is occurring in the area’s only cold-water trout stream. Johnson Creek is a 3.6-mile-long tributary to the middle branch of the Rouge River, where it joins in Wayne County’s Northville Township. The Arbor Hills landfill in Washtenaw County’s Salem Township has been identified as the source of the contamination. Getting regulators to address the issue has been difficult, and that is where the grassroots citizens group, The Conservancy Initiative, comes in. David Drinan is its vice president, and he spoke with WEMU's David Fair on how the group is taking matters into its own hands.
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On May 21st, you can join in a celebration of the Huron River. Huron River Day festivities include recreational opportunities, educational programs, food, and live music. So, how is the health of the river? Huron River Watershed Council executive director Rebecca Esselman joined WEMU's David Fair to provide updates on PFAS contamination, the threat of hexavalent chromium, and to explain why the river is fully available for fun and recreation.
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Those affected by PFAS contamination are pushing Michigan lawmakers for more action. But, as Colin Jackson reports, House legislation could take a few more weeks to be introduced.